Learning

Any relatively permanent change in behaviour

1
 Theories of learning:
Behavioral Theories
– Most traditional & researched theory
– Foundation of principles of learning;
Org.reward systems & the
behavioural management approach
Classical Conditioning
Ivon Pavlov (Russian) & John B. Watson
(Amercian)
– Attributed learning to the association/
connection between S – R
2
 Theories of learning:
Ivon Pavlov – measured the amount of
saliva secreted by the dog:
Classical conditioning, therefore, is a
process in which a formerly neutral
stimulus (bell) when paired with
unconditional stimulus (meat),
becomes a conditional stimulus that
elicits a conditional response.

3
 Theories of learning:
Operant Conditioning
Skinner (American Psychologist) said that classical
conditioning explains only respondent behaviour and these
are involuntary responses that are elicited by a stimulus.
Since human behaviour affects/ operates on the
environment, the latter type of behaviour is learned trough
operant conditioning (learning that occurs as a
consequence of behaviour).
Skinner emphasized the role the consequences play in
learning, i.e., (R – S) connections. Therefore, behaviour is
a function of its consequence.
Both the theories - called as the Connectionists theories.
– Thus S – R deals with classical or respondent
conditioning & R – S deals with instrumental or operant
conditioning.
4
 Theories of learning:
COGNITIVE - Edward Toleman (s – s)
Toleman forerunner of modern social learning theory
Cognitive learning consists of relationship between
cognitive environmental cues & expectations.
Rats run through the maze with purpose and direction
toward a goal. At each choice point in the maze,
expectations were established: that is, the rat learned
to expect that certain cognitive cues associated with
the choice might eventually lead to food.
If the rat actually received the food, the association
between the cue and the expectancy was
strengthened and learning occurred.
5
 Theories of learning:
S – S Model : learning through the association between
cue and the expectancy
S – S theory had great impact on the early HR
movements. E.g., workers learnt to be productive by
building an association between taking orders or following
the directions and expectancies of monetary reward for
this effect.
Social Learning (Albert Bandura):
Combines both behaviour & cognitive concepts
Emphasizes the interactive, reciprocal nature of
cognitive, behavioral, and environment determinants
Besides, emphasizing that learning occurs through
antecedent stimuli and contingent consequence.
6
 Theories of learning:
Learning also occurs through
– Vicarious & Modeling (learning from others –
observing & acting);
– Self Efficacy – Self control processes
Modeling
– involves observational learning; occurs through imitating
others
– Learning from others involves two steps:
– Observation: the person observes how others act and
then acquires a mental picture of the act and its
consequence
– Acts out: the person acts out the acquired image & if the
consequence is Positive (tends to do it again) or Negative
(gives it up).
Modeling involves interrelated subprocesses such as:
Attention, Retention, Motoric Reproduction & Reinforcement.7
 Principles of Learning
Law of Effect (Thorndike) :
– of several responses those behaviour which
are accompanied or closely followed by
satisfaction will be more likely to recur. &
– Those accompanied by discomfort
(punishment) will be less likely to recur.
– Desirable/ reinforcing consequences will
increase the strength of a response and its
probability of being repeated in the future.
– Increase the strength of a response or
repetition through reinforcement; decrease the
strength of a response through punishment.
8
 Principles of Learning
Reinforcement – anything the person finds
rewarding. (anything that both increases the
strength of response & tends to induce repetition
of the behaviour that preceded is called
reinforcement).
Functionally something is reinforcing only if it
strengthens the response preceding it & induces
repetition of the response

9
 Principles of Learning
Negative reinforcement – strengthens and
increases behaviour by the termination or
withdrawal of an undesirable consequence (e.g.,
X behaves well so that he is not scolded (or
punished ); It’s a kind of social blackmail, because
the person will behave in a certain way in order
not to be punished.
Note: Negative reinforcement is not punishment.
In fact, they have opposite effect on behaviour.
Negative reinforcement strengthens and
increases behaviour while punishment weakens
and decreases behaviour. 10
Punishment
Anything that weakens behaviour & tends to
decrease its subsequent frequency.
It is reverse of reinforcement , viz., (a) it is
application of undesirable consequence & (b)
also defined as withdrawal of desirable
consequence (taking away certain privileges)
Sometimes punishment becomes attention
giving/ recognition e.g., shouting infront of the
others makes someone a hero.
Punishment to occur there must be a
weakening of & decrease in the behaviour
which preceded it.
11
 Managing Behaviour
Behaviour modification:
Identification of behaviour, Measure, Analyze,
Intervene, Evaluate
Strategies for HRM
 Reinforce instead of punish to change; it accelerates
effective behaviour.
 Follow Red-Hot Stove method of Discipline –
Advance warning, immediate, consistent, &
Impersonal.
 Punishment must be situational progressive – from
clarifying/ discussion values, to written contract with
the employee being punished to time off with/ without
pay & end in termination.
12